System and Method for Re-Covering Chairs

ABSTRACT

The present invention teaches a removable secondary covering with hoods at either end for fitting the secondary covering to the back and seat of a chair and a tie for further securing the removable secondary covering.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of furniture re-upholstery andre-covering, and specifically to re-upholstery and re-covering systemsand methods for chairs.

2. Description of Related Art

The padded seats and backs of many chairs, such as standard office deskchairs, are typically covered with cloth or similar materials that, overtime, fade and wear with use, rendering them unsightly anduncomfortable. Some chairs are so inexpensive that the cost tore-upholster or re-cover them can approach or exceed the initial priceof the chair itself, yet remain sufficiently expensive to precludejustifying their ready replacement when their original coverings becomeworn, torn, or faded.

In addition to being cost-prohibitive in the context of certain chairs,existing methods for re-upholstering or re-covering commonly requirethat a chair be at least partially dismantled so that relevantindividual components of the chair—such as a covered seat and back—maybe accessed for recovering. This usually involves tacking, stapling, orotherwise affixing a new cloth or other surface material to the seat andback, then re-assembling the chair. Such ordinary re-upholsteringmethods take time and effort, and are not conducive to being carried outin most office workplace environments.

Precisely because the original coverings of new chairs can be readilycompromised and damaged, secondary chair coverings can serve to protectnew chairs from premature cosmetic damage or wear and tear, and can beparticularly useful if removable and washable. Such secondary chaircoverings additionally may provide a means of aesthetically customizingor personalizing a chair. Many existing re-covering means and methods,however, remain complicated and expensive to install.

What is needed is a simple and inexpensive system and method for easily,quickly, and inexpensively re-covering chairs to protect them orcompensate for existing damage, and to make them more comfortable andaesthetically pleasing.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a removable secondary covering withhoods at either end for fitting the secondary covering to the back andseat of a chair. The secondary covering may integrate a drape to providea more comprehensive covering for the back of the chair. A separate tiemay be employed to further secure the secondary covering to a chair andhelp to prevent the secondary covering from bunching with use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of the secondary covering.

FIG. 2 presents a rear isometric view of the secondary covering.

FIG. 3 shows a rear isometric view of the secondary covering as it mightbe readied to install on a chair.

FIG. 4 illustrates a rear isometric view of the secondary covering aftera hood has been slipped over the back of a chair.

FIG. 5 is a front isometric view of the secondary covering with one hoodslipped over the back of a chair and a second hood slipped over thefront portion of the seat of a chair and excess covering materialbunched up where the seat and back of the chair meet.

FIG. 6 presents a front isometric view of the secondary covering afterexcess covering material has been pushed through a space where the seatand the back meet, as well as a tie readied to be positioned across thefront portion of the secondary covering.

FIG. 7 illustrates a rear isometric view of the secondary covering and adrape to hide any excess covering material pushed from the front to theback of the chair through a space between the seat and the back, withtwo loose ends of a tie exposed beneath.

FIG. 8 illustrates two ends of a tie fastened together at a locationbehind a chair that might be concealed by a drape.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS

-   100 Secondary covering-   101 Front portion of the secondary covering-   201 Rear portion of the secondary covering-   202 First hood-   203 Second hood-   204 Drape-   301 Back of chair-   302 Seat of chair-   501 Excess secondary covering material-   601 Tie

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a removable secondary covering withhoods at either end for fitting the secondary covering to the back andseat of a chair. The secondary covering may integrate a drape to providea more comprehensive covering for the back of the chair. A separate tiemay be employed to further secure the secondary covering to the chairand help to prevent the secondary covering from bunching with use. Thesecondary covering and any associated tie may be constructed from cloth,leather, naugahyde, or other suitable materials. With appropriatematerials such as cloth, the secondary covering may be machine washable.

In the particular embodiment of the subject invention illustrated, FIG.1 reflects that the secondary covering 100 has a front portion 101 thatis a contiguous smooth surface. It is this surface that comes intodirect contact with the person seated in a chair on which the secondarycovering 100 has been installed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rear portion 201 of the secondary covering 100reveals hoods 202, 203 formed at the ends of the secondary covering 100.Also depicted in FIG. 2 is a drape 204 that may be left to hang at therear of a chair.

FIG. 3 shows the secondary covering 100 positioned to install on achair. To install the secondary covering 100 on a chair, a first hood202 is slipped over the back 301 of a chair and a second hood 203 isslipped over the seat 302 of a chair, in no particular order. FIG. 4illustrates the secondary covering 100 after a first hood 202 has beenslipped over the back 301 of a chair. FIG. 5 reflects the secondarycovering 100 with hoods 202, 203 slipped over the back 301 and the seat302 of the chair, and excess secondary covering material 501 bunchedwhere the back 301 and the seat 302 of the chair meet.

FIG. 6 represents the secondary covering 100 as installed following thetucking of the excess secondary covering material 501 through a spacebetween the back 301 and the seat 302, as well as a tie 601 readied tobe positioned across the front portion 101 of the secondary covering 100in a space between the back 301 and the seat 302 of a chair. FIG. 7shows how a drape 204 may hang at the rear of a chair to hide unsightlyexcess secondary covering material 501 that has been tucked through aspace between the back 301 and the seat 302 of a chair. FIG. 7 furtherillustrates two loose ends of a tie 601 after it has been positioned andis ready for fastening.

Finally, FIG. 8 reflects a typical location behind a chair for thefastening of two ends of a tie 601 by knotting, bowing, or otherwiseremovably joining or fastening said ends of the tie 601. The employmentof a tie 601 can function to prevent bunching of the secondary covering100 with use.

Additional features, not presented in the particular embodiment of theinvention illustrated in the drawings, may be incorporated into this andvarious other embodiments of the invention. These additional featuresmay include one or more pillows for extra comfort. Any said pillow couldfunction to provide lumbar, head, or neck support, and could be sewninto or otherwise integrated into the secondary covering, or fasteneddetachably to the secondary covering through the use of buttons, clasps,Velcro® or other suitable means.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for re-covering chairs, comprising: asecondary covering comprising a first hood and a second hood; and a tie.2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a drape.
 3. The system ofclaim 1, in which the secondary covering and tie are each comprised ofcloth, leather, or naugahyde.
 4. The system of claim 3, in which thesecondary covering and tie are machine washable.
 5. The system of claim2, in which the secondary covering and tie are each comprised of cloth,leather, or naugahyde.
 6. The system of claim 5, in which the secondarycovering and tie are machine washable.
 7. The system of claim 1, inwhich one or more pillows is permanently integrated into the secondarycovering.
 8. The system of claim 2, in which one or more pillows ispermanently integrated into the secondary covering.
 9. The system ofclaim 1, in which one or more pillows is detachably fastened to thesecondary covering.
 10. The system of claim 2, in which one or morepillows is detachably fastened into the secondary covering.
 11. A methodfor re-covering chairs, comprising the steps of: slipping a first hoodof a secondary covering over the back of a chair; and slipping a secondhood of the secondary covering over the seat of said chair.
 12. Themethod of claim 11, further comprising the step of tucking excesssecondary covering material in a space between the back and the seat ofa chair.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step ofsecuring the secondary covering to the chair by means of a tie extendedacross a front surface of the secondary covering where any excesssecondary covering material has been tucked in a space between the backof the chair and the seat of the chair and removably joining two ends ofthe tie together behind the chair.